Support for motion-picture apparatus and the like



April 29, 1952 A. v. L. c. DEB'RIE SUPPORT FOR MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 23, 1950 "Illu: .v.-||||||l||l lllllllll mii/M1@ ma/@fm i? W /M Patented Apr. 29, 1952 SUPPORT FOR MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE vAndre Victor Leon Clement Debrie, Paris, France Application February 23, 1950, Serial No. 145,644 In AFrance April 7, 1949 13 Claims. '1 This invention relates to supports for motion picture apparatus and the' like.

Motion picture apparatus, more particularly projection apparatus, is usually mounted on a support to which electrical connections lead and which, serving as the supporting base for the apparatus, is often utilized for housing the various electrical parts and/or amplifying elements. However, when this' base is placed on a table, it is usually necessary to incline the latter in order that the optical axis of the apparatus may have the desired inclination.

'Another shortcoming of existing supports is that replacement of a given apparatus involves replacement of the supportv and lengthy Vdisassembling and reassembling operations.

The present invention aims tov obviate these shortcomings by providing a novel supporting structure for apparatus ofthe'type referred to, which permits replacing, for example, one projection apparatus by another, without disassembling and reassembling electricalV connections, and 'tilting the optical axis at will without necessitating an inclined supporting table.

The supporting structure which is the object of the present invention, comprises, substantially, a cylindrcally curved cradle mounted onv a supporting base and on which is supported a slidable, matingly curved, shoe sole rigid withV the lowermost end o the projector apparatus, said soley being adapted to belatched on the -cradle in a position corresponding tothe desired inclination of the opticalaxis. This sole is providedwith elongated, parallelconductors insulated from one another and slidably contacted by'resilient contacts located in said base and projecting through an aperture formed in the bottom wall of the cradle. Said conductors, connected within the shoe with the Various wires leading from .the projector apparatus, permit the shoe sole, and hence the entire apparatus, to be removed away from the cradle and replaced lby another cna-without disassembling and reassembling electrical connections between the projector apparatus and its supporting base.

The latter, which further serves tohouse, Vat least partly, electron-operated amplifying means or/and other electrical devices, may be easily placed on a horizontal table, or it may be rapidly mounted, for example, on a standard head with the aid of a clamp collar provided at the bottom oi the supporting base.

Said electron-operated devices are: secured on Lboth sides `of ajplate located 4between thejtwo halves of said supporting base, "assembled byV means of bolts whose heads are embedded in elastic blocks to form feet which, by being acted upon manually, permit said halves and said plate to be disassembled with facility for revision and repair.

The invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying, more or less diagrammatic, drawings which illustrate, by way of example, an embodiment thereof and in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal elevational View, in section, showing the supporting system according to the invention applied to a projection apparatus diagrammatically shown in the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing one half of the supporting base of Fig. l, as it appears after the removal of the projection apparatus, and a sectional plan view of the other half, showing clamping means for mounting the supporting base on a standard head; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the supporting base, taken along the axis of the device for securing the projector sole to the cradle.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the upper portion of the supporting base l is formed with a cylindrically shaped depression 2 having its horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical central plane thereof. This depression is limited, on each side, by vertical walls 3.

Machined against the wvalls 3 are two circular runways 4 serving to guide outstanding cylindrically shaped parts or skids 5, having the same radius as the runways 4, of a hollow shoe 6 rigid with the lowermost end of the projection apparatus I diagrammatically indicated by dash-anddot lines in Fig. l, its optical axis being denoted by reference 8.

It is clear that because parts 5 of shoe 6 are slidably displaceable on the arcuate runways 4, the shoe 6 and projection apparatus I may tilt so that optical axis 8 may incline in one direction or the other.

`The shoe 6 may be locked on the runways 4. by means of two angle-latches 9 vertically guided in housings provided on the outer faces of the walls s. The latches 9 may be raised for unlocking, or they may be lowered to lock the shoe 6 against the supporting base I.

The latches 9 are formed with horizontal coaxial round holes I2, and they are raised or lowered by means of two eccentrics I3, rigid with a shaft I4 passing through the holes l2 and journaled in the side walls I5 of the upper portion of l'base I.

similar parts bars are conveniently connected to the various electric lines leading from the projection apparatus, for example from the sound producing device thereof.

Connections, by sliding contacts, with ele-ctron-operated devices, diagrammatically indicated by reference numerals it and i3', disposed on both sides of the insulating plate or plates 2i, as well as with the electrical ieed lines, are ol,- tained by means of resilient contact-blades 22, each having one insulated end secured to an insulating bar 23 carried by the upper portion oi the supporting base l, while the free end thereof terminates in an inverted J projecting through an opening 2d formed in the arcuate bottom wall of the depression 2.

The contacts 22 provide also the desired contacts with the devices la and i9', these contacts being eiiected by means of resilient members 25 arixedV to the plate 2l, and heid in contact with the returns 2t of contacts 22.

There is, therefore, no wire connection to be made between the apparatus 'l and the base i, nor between the upper portion of this bas-e and the` electrical devices it, l5 secured to the plate 2l.

Side walls 2l and bottom wall 28 form the lower hollow portion of the supporting base, which portion is adapted to press the plate 2i against the lowermost edges oi the upper portion of the base l.

The three components oi the base are assembled in the following way:

Bolts 2S, passing through the bottom wall it and insulating plate 2l, are screwed into bosses 3l rigid with the side walls of the upper portion of the base l. Said bolts have their heads 32 embedded in blocks of elastic material such as rubber, forming feet for conveniently placing the supporting base on a table (not shown). By

manually turning the foot blocks 33, the bolts may be screwed up or down with great ease. They pass through spacer sleeves 3d located under the insulating plate 2l in such a way that the latter, and the dependent electrical and electron devices, may be set in convenient position, when the plate 2l is removed from the supporting base for revision or repair.

For mounting the supporting base on a tripod or standard head, the bottom wall 28 is provided with a clamp collar 55 having two clamping lugs 36 separated from each other by a variable distance 3?. A screw 353, passing through the lugs 35 and turnable by means oi a control handle 3i?, permits the collar to grip the tripod or standard head.

The collar 35 is made for example being cast on the bottom wall 28, and its movability is obtained by extending its opening formed in the said wall, through a portion of its outer periphery, as indicated by reference 52.

A cover 43, located over the collar 35, afured to the latter by means of screws it screwed into its body and passed with clearance through holes 4 made in the cover 43 to allow deformations of the collar 35.

If desired, the collar 35 may be inserted into the bottom wall 23, only a portion of the collar being secured to this wall to enable it to keep its elasticity.

It is clear that changes of detail may be made in the particular form of supporting structure, above described and shown, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is also clear that the said supporting structure, capable of producing a desired inclination and electrical connection between a slidable arcuately shaped shoe sole and a corresponding stationary cradle supporting this shoe sole, may have application not only to motion picture projectors, but also to motion picture cameras, photographic apparatus, and even to certain electron-operated apparatus. Said shoe sole, which may be convex, for example, may be made integral with an apparatus, or it may be ailixed to the lower end thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting structure for electrically operated motion picture apparatus and the like which comprises, in combination, an arcuately shaped cradle mounted on a hollow supporting base and adapted to support a matingly shaped shoe sole rigid with an apparatus to be supported, said shoe sole being slidably displaceable on said cradle, means for locking said shoe sole on said cradle in a position corresponding to the desired inclination of the optical axis of the apparatus, an insulating layer constituting said shoe sole, elongated, spaced, parallel conductive bars embedded in said layer, said bars being, o-n the one hand, connected within the shoe with the various electric wires leading from said electrically operated motion picture apparatus and, on the other hand, slidably contacted by resilient contacts 1ocated in said supporting base and projecting though an aperture formed in the bottom wall of said cradle, said arrangement of said conductive bars and contacts being such as to permit the shoe sole, and hence the apparatus itself, to be removed from the cradle and replaced by another apparatus, without disassembling and reassembling the connections between the apparatus and the supporting base, the latter including two superimposed, detachably interconnected, hollow components, a detachable plate located between said components for supporting Various electrical elements housed in said two components and slidably engaging said conductive bars, means for assembling and disassembling, for revision or repair, said two components and said plate, and means for rapidly mounting the supporting base on a standard head.

2. Supporting system as deined in claim 1 inV which the cradle is concave and the shoe sole convex.

3. Supporting system as denned in claim 1 in which the cradle is convex and the shoe sole concave,

fi. Supporting system asV defined in claim l wherein said means for locking said shoe sole on the cradle comprise two oppositely angle latches adapted to be lowered or raised, respectively, by means of two eccentrics rigid with a common, manually rotatable, shaft journaled in the respective side walls of the supporting base.

5. Supporting system-as defined in claim 1 in which said assemblingand disassembling means comprise bolts adapted-to bolt together said two Acomponents andk plate of said base and having V.their heads vembedded in blocks of elastic material ina manner to form feet vfor the base,

.while permitting rotation of the bolts.

'6... Supporting system as defined in claim 1 in .which said means formounting the supporting .base on a standard head comprise a clamp collar mounted on'the bottom Wall of the base in such/a `waypas'to cause said collar, through the mediumof clamping lugs thereof, acted upon by a 4manually operated screw, .to grip the standard head. v

7.: In an electrically operated photographic arrangement; in combination, a base member havingiacurved,y supporting surface portion thereon,

:said `supporting surface portion being formed Iwith'an aperture passing therethrough; electrilcallyconductive means located insaid supporting surface portionv and comprising a plurality of contact membersconsisting of'electrically conductive material and extending through said aperture in said supporting surface portion; an

electrically operated photographic apparatus 'resting on said base member and having a curved mounting surface portion located in contact with lsaid supporting surface portion, whereby said rangement, in combination, a base member hav` ing a curved supporting surface portion thereon., said supporting surface portion being formed with an aperture passing therethrough; electrically conductive means located Vin said supporting surface portion and comprising a plurality of contact members consisting of electrically conductive material and extending through said aperture in said supporting surface portion; an electrically operated photographic apparatus resting on said base member and having a curved mounting surface portion located in Contact with said supporting surface portion, whereby said. photographic apparatus may be located in a number of positions on said supporting surface so as to permit the entire photographic apparatus to be tilted to a desired angle; means for clamping said photographic apparatus on said supporting surface portion in a desired tilted position; and additional electrically conductive means comprising a plurality of elongated insulated bars of electrically conductive material mounted in said mounting surface portion and located only in abutting relation with said electrically conductive means located in said supporting surface portion, whereby said two electrically conductive means may be separated simply by raising said photographic apparatus from said base member.

9. In an electrically operated photographic arrangement, in combination, a base member having a, curved supporting surface portion thereon, said supporting surf ace portion being formed wit-h an aperture passing therethrough; electrically conductive means located in said supporting surface portion and comprising a plurality of con- Atactmembers consisting of electricallyconduc- -tive materialrandvextending through said aperture .in lsaid supporting surface portion; an

electrically .operated photographic apparatus ltus to .betilted to a. desired angle; means for clamping said-'photographic .apparatus Yon said supporting surface portion in a desired tilted position; vadditional electrically. conductive means comprising a plurality of elongated insulated .bars of electrically conductive material mounted in .said mounting surface portion and. located only ini abutting relation with said electrically conductive means located in said supporting surface portion,iwhereby said two electrically conductive means may be separated simply by raising said photographic apparatus from said base member; andf'electrical apparatus detachably mounted in said base member, said electrical apparatus being provided with electrically conductive meansY which is located only in abutting relation with said'rstmentioned electrically conductive means located in said supporting surface portion, whereby, when said photographic apparatus' is mounted on said supporting surface portion, it is in electrical communication with said electrical apparatus and whereby said electrical apparatus maybe disvice, in combination, a base member havinga `concavely curved supporting surface portion lo- -cated thereon, said supporting surface portion being iformed with an aperture extending therethrough; a plurality of electrically conductive brushy members V'xedly mounted in said base and having 'endportions which extend through said Iaperture in said supporting surface portion, said vbrushes being slightly spaced from each other;

an electrically operated photographic apparatus mounted on said base member and having a convexly curved mounting surface portion comprising insulating material located in abutting relation with said concave supporting surface portion of said base member, said mounting surface portion of said photographic apparatus being connected at its sides to anged convexly curved members which also rest on said supporting surface portion of said base member; a plurality of elongated electrically conductive bars mounted in said mounting surface portion of said photographic apparatus and located only in abutting relation with said brushes so as to conduct electricity from said base member to said photographic apparatus, said curved surface portions of said base member and photographic apparatus permitting the photographic apparatus to be tilted to a desired degree on said base member while maintaining electrical communication with said base member through said bars and brushes; and clamp means mounted on said base member and located in engagement with said flanged members for clamping said photographic apparatus to said base member in a desired angular position.

11. In an electrically operated photographic deconcavely curved supporting surface portion 1onected at its sides to flanged convexly curved i members which also rest on said supporting surface portion of said base member; and a plurality of elongated electrically conductive bars mounted in said mounting surface portion of said photographic apparatus and located only in abutting relation with said brushes so as to conduct electricity from said base member to said photographic apparatus, said curved surface portions of said base member and photographic apparatus permitting the photographic apparatus to be tilted to a desired degree on said base member while maintaining electrical communication with said base member through said bars and brushes.

12. In an electrically operated photographic arrangement, in combination, a base member having acurved supporting surface portion; an electrically operated photographic apparatus having a curved mounting surface portion located in contact with said curved supporting surface portion of said base'member, whereby said photographic apparatus may-be located in a number of positions on said supporting surface portion so as to permit the entire photographic apparatus to be tilted to a desired angle; first electrically conductive means located in said base and comprising a first set of contact members consisting of electrically conductive material and located in said supporting surface portion of said base member; and second electrically conductive means located in said electrically operated photographic apparatus and including a second set of contact rangement, in combination, a base member having a curved supporting surface portion; an electrically-`- operated photographic apparatus having a curved mounting surface portion located in contact with said curved supporting surface portion of said, base member, whereby said photographic apparatus may be located in a number of positions on said supporting surface portion so as to permitthe entire photographic apparatus to be tilted to adesired angle; rst electrically conductive'` means located in said base and comprising a set of contact members consisting of electrically conductive material and located in said supporting surface portion of said base member; and second electrically conductive means located in said electrically operated photographic apparatus and including aset of elongated contact bars consisting of electrically conductive material and located in said mounting surface portion of said photographic apparatus only in abutting relation with said set of Contact members in said supporting surface portion of said base member,` .whereby said sets of contact members and elongated contact bars may be separated by raisingv said photographic apparatus from said base member.

ANDRE VICTOR LEON CLEMENT DEBBIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the vrile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

